POLL: Should buyers have direct access to local MLS information?

Posted by ft Editorial Staff | Mar 23, 2020 | Reader Polls, Real Estate | 4

Do you think buyers should be able to have direct access to property information in your local MLS?

No (56%, 146 Votes)
Yes (44%, 113 Votes)

Total Voters: 259

This poll will close on April 6, 2020.

About The Author

ft Editorial Staff

is the production staff comprised of legal editor Fred Crane, writer-editors Connor P. Wallmark, Carrie B. Reyes, Amy Platero, David Swistock, consulting instructor Summer Goralik, graphic designer Mary LaRochelle, video instructor Bill Mansfield and video editors John Rojas, Quinn Stevenson and Jose Melendez Avila.

4 Comments

Jeff Hensel on March 26, 2020 at 9:27 am
Buyers and sellers already have access to this information. MLS should have tried to evolve and provide additional value instead of sticking their head in the sand and trying to maintain their monopolistic power over the market.
Reply
RICHARD ROY SAYERS on March 25, 2020 at 9:03 am
This is kind of a stupid question as buyers have had access to the MLS for years via my website, Realtor.com, Zillow, Redfin etc…..
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- Robert Manuel on March 25, 2020 at 1:29 pm
  I agree, since damage is done and now we have no option other than allowing access to public. Which brings us to a new dilemma of how to compete. Similar to Expedia taking over travel agents’ jobs.
  Reply
- Michael Thaler on March 25, 2020 at 4:08 pm
  They don’t, via Zillow et al, have access to “private” comments, access codes etc. (At least AFAIK.) How do you get around the need for a listing broker – who has to be a licensed human. How would a web site get around that requirement? I guess people could act as their own listing agent and post on Zillow et al – directly. The parties then wouldn’t know how to deal w. all the red tape involved. More work for escrow officers or attorneys in states where RE sales are “processed” by an atty.
  Reply